What to look for when hiring a roofing contractor
What qualifications must a roofing contractor have? What separates an excellent contractor from the rest? Most probably, you have been asking these questions as you attempt to find a good roofing contractor to fix the problems that the roof on your home has developed. If you manage to hire a knowledgeable contractor, you will have the joys of working with one of your most important allies.
Nonetheless, what should you look for in the roofing contractor before hiring?
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Correct Bidder
A roofing contractor with the lowest bid isn’t necessarily what you need. If you don’t understand the contractor’s reasons for bidding low, hiring him would be a major mistake on your part. The low bid might be proof that the contractor uses low quality materials. The low bid could be a sign that the contractor does substandard work. However, don’t send the contractor away simply because of his low bid. The low bid probably means that his overheads are low.
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Experience
How long has the contractor been taking care of roofs? The contractor’s experience is a crucial factor that you would be better off not ignoring. A good contractor, who is full of experience and well established locally, is easier to find exactly when you need him. However, a contractor who hasn’t been around long enough is likely to be missing when you need his services.
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Licenses and Insurance
Don’t hire a roofing contractor who lacks the necessary licenses and insurance. Otherwise, you’d have nowhere to go when something goes wrong as he works on your roof. In fact, most states in the United States prohibit contractors from working without the required licenses and insurance. The requirement is a way of protecting consumers from hiring inexperienced contractors. What is more, the contractor should have liability insurance as well as worker’s compensation.
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BBB
BBB stands for Better Business Bureau. BBB is where all unhappy and disgruntled customers go to air their frustrations with any contractor they hired in the past. Visit the platform as well to check if customers have ever been unhappy with the quality of service and products that they obtained from a contractor you’re interested in hiring. BBB shows how the contractor deals with complaints. The fact that customers have complained about the contractor shouldn’t worry you.
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Communication Skills
You should never ignore the importance of communication skills. Consequently, focus on hiring a contractor whose communication skills are above average. It’s easier to speak with such a contractor. The contractor would provide you with all the information and answers to your questions. Poor communication skills are bad considering the misunderstandings that they can cause between you and the contractor.
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Types of Workers
A good roofing contractor employs the right kind of workers. A good roofing contractor knows the importance of hiring qualified and experienced workers. The workers must be great at providing excellent customer service. The caliber of workers that the contractor employs must be those capable of solving problems. The workers ought to have gone through safety training programs successfully.
Lastly, don’t underrate the importance of working with contractors who have no problem issuing and signing written contractors. Everything that you have hired the roofer to do and what the contractor promises to do must be in writing. You can’t continue relying on the old-fashioned handshake or any form of a gentleman’s agreement. If you follow this guideline, hiring a good roofing contractor shouldn’t be a problem.